Converter infeed and heater



Dec. 16, 1958 c. J. HAUG ET AL 2,864,122

CONVERTER INFEED AND HEATER Filed April 11. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hal IN VEN TOR5 HNDEE w H. SP/ $19K BY CHESTER J. H906 Dec. 16, 1958 c. J. HAUG EI'AL 2,864,122

CONVERTER INFEED AND HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 11, 1955 INVENTORS H/vpEEw H. SID/519K Y CH 5 TEE HA 0 N53! C. J. HAUG ETAL CONVERTER INFEED AND HEATER Dec. 16, 1958 Filed April 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fla. 8

loa

BY CH \STEE Hnu HTTORIVEJJ CONVERTER INFEED AND HEATER Chester J. Hang, New York, N. Y., and Andrew A. Spisak, Cleveland, Ohio, assignorsto The Warner & filzasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application April 11, 1955, Serial No. 500,398

Claims. (Cl; 181) This invention relates to a mechanism for heat plasticizing and stretching thermoplastic filaments and more particularly to a mechanism for. thus treating thermoplastic filaments Which are to be formed into synthetic yarnsused in the weaving: of materials.

The mechanism embodying the invention will be described herein for illustrative purposes as incorporated in and functioning as part of an apparatus for converting continuous filaments. into slivers of separated and drafted synthetic staples and :ofthe type disclosed in Wilkie Patent 2,438,469, March 23., 1948, although it will be understood thatthe invention in its broader aspects could be embodied in a separate mechanism or in a mechanism used in a different environment;

In producing artificial yarns from thermoplastic filaments it has been'found that the quality of the yarn is improved by heating the filaments until plastic and stretching the same predetermined amounts. This treatment of the filaments increases the tensile strength of the threads and enables the production of artificial yarn of greater density and which is s-oftand of superior quality.

It is an object of, the present invention to provide an improved and novel mechanism for heatplasticizing and stretching thermoplastic'filaments and which mechanism is of simple construction and is efiicient in operation and can function upon a continuously moving web formed of parallel thermoplastic filaments.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a mechanism as referred to in the last named object and which is capable of functioning without danger of damaging the filaments, since should the continuous movement of the filament or filaments through the mechanism be stopped heating means of the mechanism automatically will be rendered ineffectual and the filament or filaments will be maintained sufficiently cool during the stoppage period to obviate any scorching or damaging of the same.

A further object is to provide a mechanism as set forth in the preceding objects and which is so constructed that it can be readily controlled by the operator and can be quickly adapted to impart different stretching eifects to the filament or filaments.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism as referred to in the preceding objects and which mechanism can be readily incorporated in and function as part of an apparatus for converting continuous thermoplastic filaments into slivers of separated and drafted staples which can be formed into artificial yarn.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is to follow and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a mechanism embodying the invention and which mechanism is incorporatedin and functions as part of an apparatus for converting continuous thermoplastic filaments into slivers United States Patent 0 2,864,122 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 ICC 2, of separated and drafted staples which can be utilized to form artificial yarn.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism and apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front eievational view on an enlarged scale of the heating and stretching mechanism per se shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and shows in full line the heater supporting hoods or containers of the mechanism when in the effective or operative positionand indot and dash lines said hoods or containers when swung to an ineffective or inoperative position should the continuous movement of the filament or filaments in the mechanism be terminated.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionahview through the mechanism shown in Fig; 3 and is taken substantially-on line 4-4 of Fig.3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig; 5' is a fragmentaryltransverse.vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5. ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows at'therear side of themechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary partial elevation and partial section on an enlarged scale of the cam actuator for the vertically reciprocating rack member or actuating bar shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary .topvplanview taken-substantially on line77 ofEig. 3looking in the direction of'th arrows, and r Fig. 8 is adiagram of the electricalipower circuitsand controls for themain motor, the solenoid which actuates the rack. member or. actuating bar, the fan, and the heaters mountedinthe hoods or containers.

The mechanism embodying the invention comprises sets of rolls spaced:apartrlongitudinallyi of the mechanism and with the rolls of the-sets mountedi on parallel axes. Each set: of rolls consists-of at least: two rolls mounted in circumferential contact with each other and one of which is a driven roll. The driven roll'ofthe set at the input or startingendaof the. mechanism is driven to have apredetermined. surface. speed. of rotation slower than the driven roll of the. setiat' thevoutput or leaving end of themechanisma The filaments to be treated by the mechanismpass around the rolls'and between the sets of. rolls preferably. in the form of a web of parallel filaments. The drivenrolls of'thersets oftrolls cause the filaments to: pass continuously through the. mechanism during the. operation of the. latter and dueto the differential in the surfacespeed of rotation of the driven roll at the input end and; the driven roll? at the output end a predetermined stretchingcarr be. imparted to the filaments.

The mechanism further includes means for subjecting the filaments between the inputand output setsof rolls to heat tov plasticize'the filaments, whereby they can be stretched while. in aplastic condition to amuch' greater extentthan they couldinthe cold: or dry condition;

The heat for plasticizing the: filaments is' obtained from banks of heaters. arranged abovev and below the web of filaments between the sets of rolls and mounted in hoods or-containers. The mechanism is:power driven and-is electrically controlled such that shouldthe power drive: be terminated and the continuous movement of the web through the mechanism stopped the hoodsor containers mountingthe. banks of heaters automatically move. to a position wherein the, web of filaments will notf be subjected to sufiicient heat to damage the same and at the same. time an air cooling system including a fan will come into operation to assist in preventing overheating or scorchingof the-filaments of the now stationary web.

The thermoplastic filaments may be formedfrom any suitable thermoplastic filament forming materials, as for instance of the cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate,

cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose nitrate; cellulose mixed esters such as cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate; cellulose esters such as ethyl cellulose and benzyl; cellulose; mixed cellulose ethers, e. g. ethyl lauryl cellulose; 'mixed cellulose ether-esters such as ethyl cellulose acetate and methyl cellulose propionate; and noncellulosic thermoplastic materials such as acrylonitrile polymers, nylon, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, methacrylates, polystrene and Vinyon.

The mechanism embodying the invention could be used as an independent or separate unit for plasticizing and stretching thermoplastic filaments but it has been illustrated and will be described herein as incorporated in and functioning as part of an apparatus for converting continuous thermoplastic filaments into slivers of separated and drafted synthetic staples as it has particular utility in this environment.

As illustrative of a type of apparatus with which the mechanism may be used referenceis made to Wilkie Patent 2,438,469, issued March 23, 1948. The apparatus shown in said Wilkie patent is illustrated in Figs. '1 and 2 of the drawing herein while the mechanism embodying the invention is shown in said views as attached to the input or right hand end of the Wilkie apparatus. In the apparatus shown in said Wilkie patent the continuous filaments are drawn from suitable spools and formed by a guide frame into a web of parallel filaments and passed through a web flattening bank of rolls indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2 at A. The flat web of filaments then progresses through the apparatus to a web cutting or fracturing mechanism indicated generally at B in Figs. 1 and 2 and wherein the filaments forming the web are cut into staples simulating the staple lengths of natural fibers.

The cut or fractured staples then progress through the apparatus to a portion thereof that separates the ends of the staples which may be stuck together and which portion is indicated generally at C in Figs. 1

and 2. Following this separation of the ends of the staples the apparatus effects a drafting of the staples so that due to the shearing and drafting action adjacent .staples are rendered noncoterminous and are caused to overlap one another lengthwise both vertically and laterally and are merged into a practically continuous and comparatively thin web of the staples. This thin Web of staples then advances and is rolled helically into a ;sliver by that portion of the apparatus indicated generally at D in Figs. 1 and 2. Then the sliver passes into a trumpet indicated at E and is drawn through the trumpet by suitable rolls and coiled in a suitable container or can indicated at F in Figs. 1. and 2.

In view of the complete description and disclosure contained in said Wilkie Patent 2,438,469 and which may be deemed as included herein by reference, it is not believed necessary to describe in greater detail the illustrated apparatus for converting continuous filaments into staples and with which apparatus the mechanism embodyingthe present invention will be described as forming an additional portion thereof at the input end of the apparatus.

The mechanism embodying the present invention is indicated generally at M in Figs. 1 and 2, and, as previously stated, is incorporated into the apparatus shown in said Wilkie Patent 2,438,469 at the extreme right-hand or input end thereof. The mechanism comprises a front longitudinally extending supporting member 15 and a rear longitudinally extending parallel supporting member 16. The supporting members 15 and 16 are parallel to each other and may be continuations of structural members of the apparatus with which the mechanism is used or they may be separate members secured to such apparatus.

The filaments are drawn from suitable spools, not shown, and pass through apertures in a guide frame indicated at 17 and attached to the free ends of the sup- 75 porting members and 16 and which guide frame is in the form of the guide frame shown in said Wilkie Patent 2,438,469 and functions to arrange the filaments in parallelism and into a web.

The front and rear supporting members 15 and 16 just inwardly or to the left of the guide frame 17 have rigidly connected thereto upstanding parallel front and rear roller supporting columns 18 and 19. These supporting columns are formed of suitable interconnected structural members and each is provided with a vertically extending guideway 20 in which the bearing cages or housings for certain of the rollers are mounted for vertical adjustment as will later be more fully pointed out. Spaced longitudinally of the mechanism and adjacent to the right-hand end of the apparatus to which the mechanism is attached are similar front and rear supporting columns 21 and 22, each of which is provided with the vertical guideway 20 previously referred to.

The supporting columns 18 and 19 are at the input or starting end of the mechanism and the columns 21 and 22 are at the leaving or output end thereof. The input columns 18 and 19 are provided with suitable bearing supports for the trunnions or shafts 23 at the front and rear ends of an input driven roll 24. Similarly, the columns 21 and 22 are provided with suitable bearing supports, one of which is indicated at 25 in Fig. 5 for the trunnions or shafts 26 at the front and rear ends of the output driven roll 27 of the mechanism.

The input roll 24 and the output roll 27 are both driven and the peripheral surface speed of rotation of the output roll 27 is greater than that of the input roll 24 for a purpose later becoming apparent. This differential in the speeds of rotation of the rolls 24 and 27 may be accomplished in various ways, one of which is illustrated and will now be described.

In Fig. 5 the rear trunnion 0r shaft 26 of the output driven roll 27 is shown as extended beyond its bearing support and as having keyed to its extended end sprockets 28 and 29 of the same size. The sprocket 28 is connected by a drive chain indicated schematically in Fig. 3 by dot and dash lines at 30 to a sprocket 31 fixed on the rear trunnion or shaft for the input driven roll 24. The sprocket 31 is larger than the sprocket 28 so that if rotation is imparted to the sprocket 28 the chain 30 will impart rotation to the sprocket 31 but at a slower speed of rotation and hence the input driven roll 24 will rotate at a slower speed than the output driven roll 27, said driven rolls preferably being of the same diameter. The difference in size between the sprockets 28 and 31 can be varied by substituting various size sprockets 31 which are larger than the sprocket 28 and hence various differentials can be obtained in the circumferential surface speeds of the driven rolls 24 and 27, with the roll 24 always rotating at a slower speed than the roll 27.

In order to take up slack in the chain 30 between the sprockets 28 and 31, particularly if different size sprockets 31 are utilized, a suitable chain slack takeup means can be employed, one such means being indicated schematically at 32 by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

The sprocket 29 on the rear trunnion or shaft for the output driven roll 27 may be driven by a chain drive 33 from a suitable driving source which if the mechanism embodying the invention is attached to the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be the main drive motor 34 of such apparatus, or the mechanism may be driven by a separate drive motor, not shown, and particularly if the mechanism is employed independently of any other apparatus.

A lower input idler roll 35 and an upper input idler roll 36 are mounted, respectively, above and below the input driven roll 24 and normally contact the circumference of the driven roll 24 with sufiicient pressure to be rotated thereby, as will later be explained. Similarly, a lower output idler roll 37 and an upper output idler roll 3 8.aremounted above an'd below the output driven roll 27, The axes of all the rollsreferred to are parallel to each other and 'it will be noted that the driven rolls 24 and 27 rotate in the same direction i. e., counterclockwise while the idler rolls rotate in the same direction to each other i. e., clockwise.

The trunnions or shafts at the front and rear ends of the input idler rolls 35, 36 and the output idler rolls 37, 38 are rotatably supportedin antifriction bearings mounted in bearing cages or housings 39 which are vertically I as the case may be. The housings 41 form aligned continuations ofthe guideways 2.0 in the columns 18, 19, 21 and 22 both at the upper and lower ends of the guideways, while the plungers 40 normally project out of the open ends of the housings 41 and engage the bearing cages 39.

Coil springs 42 are-mounted in the-housings 41 between the closed ends of said housings and the adjacent ends of the plungers 40 and function to urge said plungers underspring load into contact with the bearing cages 39 so that the idler rolls will be maintained in spring pressed contact with their respective driven rolls.

The spring load exerted by thesprings 42 canbe adjustedby adjusting screws 43 extending through the closed ends of the housings 41 and operatively engaging shoes 44 against which the springs 42 abut. It will thus be understoodthat the frictional contacting engagement between the idler rolls and their'respective driven rolls can be varied asmay be desired;

In setting the mechanism up for operation in passing the web of filaments around the rolls itis desirable to provide for relieving the frictional engagement between the idler rolls and their respective driven rolls and for thispurpose the following arrangement is employed.

The upper and lower front and rear housings 41 at both the input and output endsof the mechanism mount rotatable shafts 45 that extend transversely of the mechanism from front to rear thereof. Theshafts 45 are provided with crankportions located in recesses 46 formed in the plungersiil. It will be seen that when the shafts 45 are rotated ina predetermined direction the crankportlons thereof acting in the recesses 46 in the plungers w ll force said plungers 40inwardlyof the housings 41 and against the action of the springs 42. and thus relieve the frictional engagement between the idler rolls and the respective drivenrolls. Then when the shafts 45 are -rotated in the opposite direction the plungers 45] are allowed to move outwardly of the housings under the load of the springs 42 and to again effect frictional engagement .between the idler rolls and their respective driven rolls.

The shaft 45 for the upper idler roll 36 at the input end of the mechanism is actuated by the operator by a lever 47 secured to the front end of said shaft 45. The shaft 45 for relieving the lower idler roll 35 at the input end is actuated by a lever 48 secured to said shaft at the front of the mechanism. The upper shaft 45 at the output end of the mechanism and which functions to effect relieving of the idler roll 38 is actuated by a lever 49 secured to said shaft at the front of the mechanism. The lower shaft 45 at the output end of the mechanism is actuated by a lever 50 secured to said shaft at the frontof the mechanism and hence the idler roll 3'7 can be relieved.

The supporting members and 16 intermediate the columns 18 and 19 at the input end of the mechanism and the columns 2?. and 22 at the output end of the mechanism support longitudinally extending vertically spaced structural'me'mbers 51, and 52 at the front of mechanism and similar striictural me bers 53 nd 54 at thefrear of the mechanism. The structural members 51 and 52, 53 and 54 are secured at their op'posite ends to the columns 18, 19 and 21, 22. The structuralmembers 51 and 52 and 53 and 54 just to the left ofthe. columns 18 and 19 as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 support vertically extending parallel posts 55 and 56 which are shown as passing through aligned openings in said structural members and being secured in position by locking screws 57, although it will be understood that the posts 55 and 56 could be fixedly secured in the members 51, 52, 53, and 54 in any suitable manner.

The posts 55 and 56 have rigidly secured thereto adjacent their upper ends upper supporting bars 58 which extendlongitudinally of the mechanism toward the output end thereof and which are parallel to each other. The posts 55 and 56 below the structural members, 52 and 54 have rigidly secured thereto lower supporting bars 59 which are parallel to each other and to the upper supporting bars 58 and extend longitudinally of the mechanism but are of shorter length than the upper bars 58. The upper bars 58 mount the opposite ends of a rockable shaft 60 extending transversely of the mechanism and supporting the upper heater hood 61 for swinging movement between an operative horizontal position indicated in Fig. 3 by full lines and an ineffective or inoperative upwardly tilted position indicated by dotand dash lines, with said hood extending longitudinally of the mechanism between the sets of rolls and overlying the, web or filaments passing therethrough when the hood is the operative position.

The lower supporting bars 59 mount the opposite ends of a lower rockable shaft 62 which supports the lower heater hood 63 for swinging movementfrom an operative horizontal position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to a downwardly tilted ineffective or inoperative position represented by dot and dash lines in said view. I

The upper shaft 60 has fixed to it adjacent the rear upper supporting bar 58 a pinion 64 while the shaft 62 has fixed to it adjacent the rear lower supporting bar 59 a pinion 65. It will be noted that the shafts 60v and 62 are not in vertical alignment but that the shaft 62 is located closer to the post 56 than is the shaft 60. Consequently an actuating bar that extends vertically can-have one of its side edges operatively associated with the upper pinion 64.and its opposite side edge operatively associated. with the lower pinion 65. The actuating bar referred to is illustrated as formed of two vertically aligned rack portions, namely, an upper rack portion 66 and a lower rack portion 67 with said rack portions being interconnected by a suitable coupling 68. The upper rack'portion 66 is provided on one of its side edges with rack teeth 69 meshing with the upper pinion 64 while the rack portion 67 is provided on its opposite side edge with rack teeth 70 that mesh with the. lower pinion 65.

It will be seen that if the actuatingbar is moved in a downward direction then the upper pinion 64 and shaft 61) will turn in a clockwise direction'and the upper heater hood 61 will swing from its horizontal operative position upwardly into its tilted ineffective or inoperative position indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. Also downward movement of the actuating bar will rock the lower shaft 62 and its pinion in a counterclockwise direction and effect swinging movement of the lower heater hood 63 downwardly from its horizontal operative position into an ineffective or inoperative downwardly tilted position indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

The upper rack portion 66 is guided for vertical reciprocation in a recess formed in the rear upper support;- ing bar 58 and is held in said recess by plate 71 secured tothe rear upper supporting bar 58, see Fig. 7. The

lower rack portion 67 is guided for vertical reciprocation by the rear lower supporting bar 59 in a similar manner, it b ng u d st qq t a P a e. 7 $imi ar e herlate 7 71 is secured to the lower supporting bar 59 to hold the lower rack portion 67 in the recess in the supporting bar.

In order to actuate the actuating bar formed of the upper and lower rack portions 66 and 67 the following arrangement is employed. The posts 55 and 56 have have secured to their lower ends supporting bars 73 which extend longitudinally of the mechanism and are parallel to the supporting bars 58 and 59 but are substantially shorter than said bars. The supporting bars 73 rotatably support a shaft 74 which extends transversely of the mechanism and beyond the front side thereof where it is provided with an operating handle 75.

The shaft 74 passes intermediate the acuating bar and the rear post 56 and has fixed thereto adjacent to the post 56 a cam 76, see Figs. 3, 4 and 6. The lower rack portion 67 has secured to its side face a cam follower plate 77 formed with spaced arms that overlie the cam 76 and mount cam follower rollers 78 that contact the cam 76. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 74 is rocked in one direction the actuating bar formed of the rack portions 66 and 67 will be lowered to cause the heater hoods to swing from horizontal operative position to the ineffective or inoperative tilted positions already referred to and when the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction said hoods will swing from ineffective or inoperative position back to horizontal operative position.

As will later be explained in greater detail, it is desirable when the travel of the filament web through the mechanism terminates to have the shaft 74 actuated by power and automatically to effect a swinging of the heater hoods from horizontal operative position to their inoperative or ineffective tilted positions just above explained.

In carrying out this automatic power operation of the shaft 74 said shaft has fixed to it adjacent the front of the mechanism a pinion 79 which meshes with a rack 80 that is moved by the energization of a solenoid 81 in a direction to rock the shaft 74 to obtain the movement of the hoods to the inoperative or ineffective tilted positions. The rack 80 upon deenergization of the solenoid 81 is moved in the opposite direction, by spring or other suitable means, to effect movements of the hoods from the inoperative positions to their normal horizontal operative positions.

The solenoid 81 is automatically energized when the main motor 34 is deenergized provided the main switch is closed. Also when the Web of filaments is not moving through the mechanism and the hoods are automatically swung to inoperative or ineffective positions it is desirable to blow air over the now stationary web of filaments in the mechanism to prevent undesired heating thereof which might injure or scorch the filaments. For this purpose an air duct 82 is provided at the front of the machine and said duct has a horizontally extending outlet portion 82a located intermediate the hoods and extending substantially the longitudinal length of the hoods intermediate the sets of rolls and in a position to blow cooling air across the stationary web of filaments.

The air duct 82 has a vertically extending portion at the front of the machine and which is downwardly tapered and connected to the outlet of a fan housing 83 which mounts a suitable type of blower fan and is provided with an air inlet indicated at 84. The fan is operated by a fan motor 85 and which is deenergized when the mechanism is operating but will be automatically energized when the main motor is deenergized and the web of filaments is stationary in the mechanism.

It will be understood that the upper and lower heater hoods heaters capable of producing when the hoods are in horizontal'operative positions sufiicient heat to properly plasticize the filaments of the web passing through the mechanism. Although these heaters may vary as to type reference will be made herein to the use in the hoods of 61 and 63 will be provided with banks of suitable Cit quartz heaters indicated at 86 in Fig. 8 with each hood containing a bank of such heaters. The use of quartz heaters is particularly advantageous, since when energized they are in that part of the infrared band of the spectrum that the rays emitted therefrom are absorbed by the material of the filaments passing through the mechanism and will set up a molecular activity in the material without unduly heating the surrounding areas. The electrical connections to the heaters in the hoods 61 and 63 extend thereto through suitable conduits indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 at 87.

As already stated, the heaters 86 are arranged in banks in the hoods 61 and 63 and reference to Fig. 8 will show that the heaters when the main switch 88 and heater switch 89a are both closed are always electrically connected through a suitable power regulating unit 89 by wires 90 and 91 to the wires 92 and 93 of the three wire electrical supply circuit that also includes the wire 94. The wires 92, 93 and 94 of the electrical supply circuit extend to the main drive motor 34. The wires 92 and 93 are connected to wires 95 and 96 which extend to the primary coil of a transformer unit 97. The secondary coil of the transformer 97 is connected to wires 98 and 99 of a control circuit. Wire 98 is electrically connected to a wire 100 having therein the contacts of a normally closed manually actuated stop switch 101. The wire 100 beyond the stop switch 101 is electrically connected to a wire 102 provided with the contacts of a normally open manually actuated start switch 103 and also with a pair of normally open contacts of a relay CR. A wire 104 is connected to the wires 100 and 102 intermediate the start and stop switches and extends to the wire 102 beyond the mentioned contacts of the relay CR. A wire 105 is connected to the wires 100 and 102 and extends to the coil of a relay CR1 and contains a pair of normally open contacts of the relay CR. The wire 102 is connected by a wire 106 to the coil of the relay CR. The coils of relays CR and CR1 are also connected, respectively, to the wire 99 by wires 107 and 108. The wire 105 intermediate the contacts of the relay CR and the coil of the relay CR1 is connected to a wire 109 that extends to the coil of relay M, said coil also being connected by a wire 110 to wire 99.

Wires 90 and 91 are connected by wires 111 and 112 to the primary of a transformer unit 113, the secondary of which is connected by wires 114 and 115 to the fan motor 85. The wires 114 and 115 are connected by wires I16 and 117 to the winding of the solenoid 81. The wires 92, 93. 94 contain the normally open contacts of the relay M while the wires 102 and 105 contain the normally open contacts of the relay CR. The wires 114, 115, 116 and 117 contain the normally closed contacts of the relay CR1.

It will be seen that when the main switch 88 and the heater switch 89a are closed the heaters 86 will be energized. The power regulating unit 89 will be adjusted so the heaters will produce infrared waves of a length which can be absorbed by the particular fiber being processed. When it is desired to energize the main motor 34 the operator momentarily closes the manually actuated normally open start switch 103.

The closing of the switch 103 completes the circuit to the coil of the relay CR through wire 106 whereupon the normally open contacts of said relay in wires 102 and 105 close. Then when the operator allows the start switch 103 to move to normally open position a holding circuit is established through wires 104, 102 and 106 to the coil of the relay CR to maintain the contacts thereof closed. Therefore the coil of the relay M is energized through the wires 105 and 109 and wire 110 that extends to wire 99, whereupon the normally open contacts of the relay M in wires 92, 93 and 94 are closed and the main motor 34 is energized. At this time the coil of the relay CR1 is energized through the wire 105 and wire 108 and the normally closed contacts of the relay CR1 in wires 114, 115, 116 and 117 are open so that fan motor 85 is de- This .coa tipn o t operator desires todeenergize said main motor tostopthe travel of the web or filaments through the mechanism.

So long as the main motor is energized and the solenoid 81 is deenergized the heater hoods 61 and 63will be in the or on perat ve positions o t a th heat r 86 therein will be acting on the filaments to plasticize the same so they can be stretched by the action of the input and output sets of rolls.

Now assuming that the operator for some reason wishes to stop the travel of the web or filaments through the mechanism he momentarily actuatQS Stop switch 101 from normally closed position to open position. This interrupts the holding circuits through wires 104, 102 and 106 to the coil of relay CR, whereupon the contacts of said relay in wires-102 and 105 open. The opening of the contact ofrelay GR in wire 105 breaks the circuit through wire 109 to the coil of relay M so that the contacts thereof in wires 92, 93 and 94 move to their normally open position interrupting the circuit to the main motor 34. Also the opening of the contacts of relay CR in wire 105 interrupts the circuit to the coil of relay CR1 and the contacts of this relay in wires 114, 115, 116 and 117 move from open position to their normally closed position so that the circuits are completed to the fan motor 85 and the solenoid 81. The energization of the fan motor 85 immediately causes cooling air to be circulated through the air duct 82 and out of the outlet 82a thereof by the fan 85 with such circulating air passing over the now stationary web of filaments in the mechanism. The energization of the solenoid 81 actuates the rack 80 to rotate the pinion 79 and rock the shaft 74 in a direction to move the rack bars 66 and 67 downwardly to efiect swinging of the upper and lower heater hoods 61 and 63 from their normally operative horizontal positions to their tilted ineffective or inoperative positions so that the heaters in said hoods will now be located in a position wherein they will not overheat or damage the filaments while the cooling air from the fan passing over the filaments will assure against any scorching of the same.

It will be understood that if the mechanism embodying the invention is incorporated in and functions as part of an apparatus for converting continuous filaments into slivers of separated and drafted synthetic staples that the main drive motor 34 may function for both the mechanism and the apparatus.

It will also be understood that for purposes of simplification the control circuit shown in Fig. 8 includes only the controls for the main motor, the fan motor 85 and the solenoid 81, but if the mechanism is incorporated into the referred to apparatus the control circuit could include also controls for the various parts of said apparatus.

The mechanism embodying the invention possesses particular utility when it is incorporated in and functions as part of an apparatus for converting continuous filaments into slivers of separated and drafted synthetic staples which can be formed into artificial yarn and then used for the weaving of materials. The stretching of the thermoplastic filaments while plasticized under heat enables said filaments to be stretched to a substantially greater extent than they could be stretched when cool or dry.

It has been found that the filaments after being plasticized and stretched in the mechanism embodying the invention and then cooled as they proceed through the apparatus for converting them into slivers of separated and drafted synthetic staples do not revert to their original unstretched condition but remain in stretched condition. This stretched condition in the staples formed from the thermoplastic filaments and in the yarn produced from the staples continues until subjected to further processing steps involving use of heat. Then when they are further -10 ama ed unde e as; ii anse du n dyein p oces es the ber r p e e ert to th i P Q 1- stretched condition and this produces in mater ls woven therefrom a soft hand or flulfy condition rendering said woven materials comparable to materials woven from natural cashmere wool.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the mechanism embodying the invention accomplishes the objects and advantages hereinbefore specified and does so in a simple and eificient manner.

Although a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A mechanism for plasticizing and stretching thermoplastic filaments comprising an input set of rolls and an output set of rolls spaced apart the distance of a heating zone and around and between which the filaments pass, each of said sets of rolls including a driven roll, the driven roll of the output set of rolls having a faster circumferential speed of rotation than the driven roll of the input set of rolls whereby to effect a stretching action on the filaments, power means for driving said driven rolls, heating means located intermediate said sets of rolls and extending therebetween, means for moving said heating means from normal operative position to a displaced substantially ineffective or inoperative position, means functioning automatically upon termination of the power drive to said driven rolls to actuate said means for moving the heating means to displaced ineffective or inoperative position, said power means being an electric motor, said automatically functioning means including an electromotive device operatively associated with the means for moving said heating means, an electrical control circuit for said motor and said electromotive device, and means for automatically circulating a cooling medium over the filaments in the heating zone between the sets of rolls when the power drive to the driven rolls is terminated and which latter means is controlled by said control circuit.

2. A mechanism for plasticizing and stretching thermoplastic filaments comprising input and output sets of rolls spaced apart the distance of a heating zone and including driven rolls and idler rolls contacting therewith, means for driving the output driven roll at a greater peripheral speed than the input driven roll and including a power device, heater hoods located in said zone intermediate the sets of rolls on opposite sides of the filaments passing between said sets of rolls, heaters mounted in said hoods, means swingably mounting said hoods so the latter can be moved to substantially parallel operative positions relative to said filaments or swung to tilted inoperative positions, means for actuating said last named means and including a power device, control means for both of said power devices and functioning automatically during the operation of the mechanism when said first named power device is inactive to render said second named power device active to effect swinging movements of said hoods to tilted inoperative positions, and means provided for circulating a cooling medium over the filaments in said zone intermediate the sets of rolls when the first named power device is inactive and the second named power device is active, and said control means automatically controlling said cooling medium circulating means conjunctively with said second power device.

3. A mechanism for plasticizing and stretching thermoplastic filaments comprising input and output sets of rolls spaced apart the distance of a heating zone including driven rolls and idler rolls contacting therewith, means for drivingthe output driven roll at a greater peripheral speed than the input driven roll and including a drive electric motor, heater hoods located intermediate the sets of rolls on opposite sides of the filaments passing between said sets of rolls, heaters mounted in said hoods, means moved to substantially parallel operative positions relative to said filaments or swung to tilted inoperative positions,

means for actuating said last named means and including a solenoid, means for circulating a cooling medium over said filaments in said zone intermediate said sets of rolls and including a fan and a fan motor, and a control circuit for said drive motor, solenoid and fan motor such that deenergization of said drive motor eifects energization of said solenoid to cause said hoods to swing to tilted inoperative positions and energization of said fan motor to cause circulation of the cooling medium.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 3 and wherein the means swingably mounting said hoods includes shafts provided with pinions fixed thereto while the means for actuating the means swingably mounting said hoods includes an actuator bar provided with rack portions meshing with said pinions, and operative connections between said actuator bar and said solenoid.

v v. v. 12

v 5. 'A mechanism as defined in claim 4 and wherein the operative connections. between said actuating bar and said solenoid include cam follower means secured to said actuating bar, an actuating shaft provided with a cam cooperating with said cam follower means and also provided with a pinion fixed thereto, and a rack meshing with said pinion and operatively associated with said solenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,949,119 Gibbs Feb. 27, 1934 2,335,190 Minich Nov. 23, 1943 2,451,597 Wheeler Oct. 19, 1948 2,558,732 Cresswell July 3, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES 7 Perrotta: Heating With Far Infra-Red, Plastics Engineering, August 1953, pp. 109-114. 

